Man Charged After Sexual Assault On Trail Near Reagan National Airport

ALEXANDRIA, VA — A Honduran national was arrested Tuesday following a reported sexual assault on the Mount Vernon Trail near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, according to federal court documents filed in the Eastern District of Virginia.

Yefri Rolando Castellanos Sevilla, 18, faces federal charges of engaging in sexual contact without permission and possession of forged immigration documents.

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According to an affidavit filedby a U.S. Park Police investigator, the incident occurred shortly before 3 p.m. on Monday. A woman walking southbound on the trail near the tunnel reported being approached by three males on green electric scooters. The victim told investigators that after she rebuffed a verbal advance from one of the men, a second scooter passed her and she felt "a very hard slap on her left buttock."

USPP investigators, who were stationed at Gravelly Point in an undercover vehicle, located three individuals matching the victim's description traveling along the trail adjacent to Thomas Avenue. Officers later identified the subjects as Castellanos, Hugo Paul Alexander Diaz Martinez, and a juvenile.

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During a police interview translated by a USPP officer, Castellanos Sevilla initially denied the interaction. However, investigatoers stated that Castellanos Sevilla later admitted to hitting the woman, claiming he "wanted to do it" and was "just being dumb."

Diaz, who was also interviewed, told police he heard a "loud sound consistent with a slap" followed by a woman screaming. He noted that Castellanos Sevilla was laughing as they continued riding southbound.

Following the arrest, investigators recovered a counterfeit "United States of America Permanent Resident" card from Castellanos Sevilla. The card featured a name with a different spelling and a false birth year of 2005.

DHS database searches revealed:

• The USCIS number on the card belonged to a different individual.
• Fingerprints taken during the arrest matched a person encountered by U.S. Border Patrol near El Paso, Texas, in July 2023.
• Castellanos Sevilla’s true date of birth is June 12, 2007.=
• Castellanos Sevilla told investigators he purchased the forged card for $100 from a co-worker at an Alexandria restaurant.

The criminal complaint was authorized by U.S. Magistrate Judge Ivan D. Davis on April 14. Castellanos Sevilla is charged under 18 U.S.C. § 2244(b), which carries a potential sentence of up to two years, and 18 U.S.C. § 1546(a), which carries a maximum of 10 years for a first offense.

Following his arrest, Castellanos Sevilla made an initial appearance on on Tuesday, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ivan D. Davis in Alexandria. During the proceedings, the court appointed Valencia Danyale Roberts from the Federal Public Defender’s office to represent Castellanos Sevilla, who was assisted by a Spanish interpreter. Prosecutors Allie McKnight and Jordan Harvey informed the defendant of his rights, the specific charges regarding the trail assault and document fraud, and the potential penalties he faces.

The government is currently seeking to keep Castellanos Sevilla in custody. While the defense requested a release with conditions, Judge Davis denied the request and issued a temporary detention order. A detention and preliminary hearing has been scheduled at 2 p.m. on Thursday in Alexandria Courtroom 301, where the court will further evaluate whether he should remain remanded pending trial.